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Bexley at a glance

The Ocean View Estate conservation area

In June 2024 Bayside Council added the Ocean View Estate in Bexley as a heritage conservation area under the Bayside Local Environmental Plan 2021, one of four new areas recommended by its heritage study. Inside the estate, the rules for visible changes are stricter than in the rest of the suburb.

• External changes such as new front fences, roofing, windows, second storeys and demolition usually need a development application.
• Bayside Council lists some minor works that may be exempt in a conservation area. Check with council before you start.
• Ask quoting builders whether they have worked in a conservation area and can match original details.

The other three areas added at the same time are in Banksia (Gibbes and Farr streets), Bardwell Valley (Hamilton and Lansdowne streets) and Brighton-Le-Sands (Brighton Parade).

Federation and interwar homes: what to check

Bexley has many single-storey Federation cottages with verandahs and wrought-iron detailing, as well as interwar brick houses. Many are around a century old.

• Terracotta and slate roofs often need ridge re-bedding and re-pointing, or partial re-roofing. See roof restoration or replacement.
• Timber floors on piers can suffer from poor subfloor ventilation, damp or termites.
• Paint applied before 1970 may contain lead, so sanding and stripping need dust controls.
• Rear additions from the 1950s to 80s may contain asbestos fibro.
• Verandah floors, posts and fretwork rot where water sits. Like-for-like repairs are often exempt, but a new design may not be in the conservation area.
• Leadlight windows and timber sashes can often be repaired by a carpenter rather than replaced.

Drainage, long blocks and access

The upper reaches of the Spring Street Drain catchment lie in Rockdale and Bexley, and Bayside Council has also studied Bardwell Creek on the northern side. Overland flow can affect some lots, so check your Section 10.7 certificate before planning a rear extension or granny flat on Bexley's long blocks.

There is no railway station in Bexley itself; it relies on buses and roads such as Forest Road and Stoney Creek Road, so plan truck and crane access for big jobs. Home extensions and kitchen renovations are common requests.

• Long rear yards suit extensions and granny flats, but check for sewer lines and easements, which often run along back boundaries.
• Get a rising damp assessment if old brick walls show tide marks or crumbling mortar near the ground.

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